CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

melanin    →   melanin

Melanin is a skin pigment (substance that gives the skin its colour). Dark-skinned people have more melanin than light-skinned people.

nfpa    →   nfpa

NFPA is abbreviation for National Fire Protection Association.

nuclear reactor    →   nuklearni reaktor

Nuclear reactor is an assembly of fissionable material (uranium-235 or plutonium-239) designed to produce a sustained and controllable chain reaction for the generation of electric power.

The essential components of a nuclear reactor are:

1. The core, metal rods containing enough fissionable material to maintain a chain reaction at the necessary power level (as much as 50 t of uranium may be required).
2. A source of neutrons to initiate the reaction (such as a mixture of polonium and beryllium)
3. A moderator to reduce the energy of fast neutrons for more efficient fission (material such as graphite, beryllium, heavy water, and light water are used)
4. A coolant to remove the fission-generated heat (water, sodium, helium, and nitrogen may be used)
5. A control system such as rods of boron or cadmium that have high capture cross sections (to absorb neutrons)
6. Adequate shielding, remote-control equipment, and appropriate instrumentation are essential for personnel safety and efficient operation.

rem    →   rem

Rem (rem) (roentgen equivalent man) is a non-SI unit of dose equivalent employed in radioprotection (rem = 10^-2 Sv).

salt fog test    →   ispitivanje u slanoj komori

Salt fog test is an accelerated corrosion test in which specimens are exposed to a fine mist of a solution usually containing sodium chloride (typically 5 %). Other contaminants can be added according to desired conditions. It is mainly used to determine the effectiveness of material finishes and protective coatings on materials. Salt-fog testing is also used to determine the effects of salt deposits on the electrical functions of electronic assemblies.

strontium    →   stroncij

Strontium was discovered by Sir Humphry Davy (England) in 1808. Named after the village of Strontian in Scotland. It is soft, malleable, silvery-yellow metal. Combustible in air, will react with water. Exposed surfaces form protective oxide film. Metal ignites and burns readily. Strontium is found in minerals celestite and strontianite. Used in flares and fireworks for crimson colour. Strontium-90 is a long lived highly radioactive fallout product of atomic-bomb explosions.

temperature rating    →   temperaturno područje

Temperature rating is the maximum and minimum temperature at which the material may be used in continuous operation without loss of its basic properties. For example, temperature ratings are often quoted for electrical insulators, specifying the maximum temperature at which they provide adequate protection against electrical breakdown.

tin    →   kositar

Tin has been known since ancient times. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word stannum meaning tin. It is silvery-white, soft, malleable and ductile metal. Exposed surfaces form oxide film. Resists oxygen and water. Dissolves in acids and bases. Organic tin compounds may be highly toxic. Tin is principally found in the ore cassiterite (SnO₂) and stannine (Cu₂FeSnS₄). Used as a coating for steel cans since it is non-toxic and non-corrosive. Also in solder (33 %Sn:67 %Pb), bronze (20 %Sn:80 %Cu) and pewter. Stannous fluoride (SnF₂), a compound of tin and fluorine is used in some toothpaste.

U-tube manometer    →   U-manometar

U-tube manometer contains water or mercury in a U-shaped tube, and is usually used to measure gas pressure. One end of the U tube is exposed to the unknown pressure field (P) and the other end is connected to a reference pressure source (usually atmospheric pressure) (P_ref), shown in the schematic below.

If fluid C is the atmosphere, fluid B is the liquid in the U tube (e.g. water or mercury), and fluid A is a gas, then we can assume that ρB >> ρA, ρC. The pressure contributed by the weight of gas within the U tube can therefore be neglected. The gage pressure of the gas can be approximated by,

zinc    →   cink

Zinc was discovered by Andreas Marggraf (Germany) in 1746. The origin of the name comes from the German word zink. It is bluish-silver, ductile metal. Reacts with alkalis and acids. Tarnishes in air. Zinc is found in the minerals zinc blende (sphalerite) (ZnS), calamine, franklinite, smithsonite (ZnCO₃), willemite and zincite (ZnO). Used to coat other metal (galvanizing) to protect them from rusting. Although some 90 % of the zinc is used for galvanizing steel. Zinc metal is used in the common dry-cell battery. Also used in alloys such as brass, bronze. Zinc compounds are also used in the manufacture of paints, cosmetics, plastics, electronic devices, and other products.